Experiments in monkeys could lead to sensitive replacement limbs for humans

By Laura Sanders, 15:03 PM October 14, 2013

Tickling the brain in just the right spot can create the sensation of touch. By zapping monkeys’ brains with electrodes, scientists tricked the animals into feeling a poke.

The feat, described October 14 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers a blueprint for creating advanced prosthetics that meld with the brain. Restoring touch to people who have lost limbs or are paralyzed is one of the biggest goals in prosthetic design, says study coauthor Sliman Bensmaia of the Uni...